[img]https://www.sermonindex.net/images/forum/2004/may/featured_news.gif[/img]While an American pastor is the subject of federal investigations for delivering a pro-George Bush sermon on July 4, Christian churches in Canada are now facing the loss of their tax-exempt status should they become involved in partisan politics. The Canada Customs and Revenue Agency has met with legal representatives of both the Catholic Church and the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada to warn them of the action in connection with this year's campaign. According to LifeSiteNews, churches are not only admonished against recommending certain candidates or political parties, but they also face crackdowns for speaking out on issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage."The best thing for a charity to do, especially during an election, is to stay away from those issues," Dawna Lynn Labonté, a spokeswoman for the minister of national revenue, told the news agency. "There are certain issues, especially during election times, that are very political." The gag order on religions is said to cover all moral issues, even poverty.
_________________SI Moderator - Greg Gordon
Act 4:19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
_________________Mike Balog
As I understand it, at least in the U.S., a church is automatically tax-exempt even without having to apply for 501.3(c) (or whatever it is), the IRS people have apparently been baffled for years as to why the churches keep trying to put themselves under government authority like that.But even if you have to pay taxes in order to obey God (by addressing all issues under His jurisdiction, i.e. everything), pay taxes.
